The World Anti-Doping Doping Agency (WADA) recently released the 2019 Prohibited List of Substances and Methods (List), which goes into effect on January 1, 2019. The List is developed throughout the year and released three months before going into effect, giving athletes and support personnel ample time to become familiar and compliant with the updated List.

In addition to reviewing the updated List and Summary of Major Changes from WADA, athletes and support personnel – including parents, coaches, and medical professionals – should take time to review some highlights and additional explanations from the relatively minor changes for 2019:

CLARIFICATION ON ANABOLIC AGENTS

The title of S1.1b “Endogenous Anabolic Androgenic Steroids (AAS) when administered exogenously” was changed to “Endogenous AAS and their Metabolites and isomers when administered exogenously.”

This change was made to clarify that all endogenous AAS and their metabolites and isomers are prohibited when administered exogenously.

This is important in the context of dietary supplements because some manufacturers may intentionally try to add new prohibited anabolic agents to products that are either metabolites or isomers of more well-known anabolic agents, which may make the supplement facts label misleading for consumers.

Anabolic agent metabolites or isomers are also listed because they may be used as masking agents for the athlete biological passport (i.e. to affect the “steroid profile”).

NAME CLARIFICATIONS

For consistency, a number of other substances are now listed alongside their International Nonproprietary Name (INN) or other nomenclature, including:

Ostarine (enobosarm)

Ghrelin (lenomorelin)

Hexarelin (examorelin)

Dimethylamphetamine (dimetamfetamine)

1,3-dimethylbutylamine (4-methylpentan-2-amine)

ADDITIONAL EXAMPLES OF PROHIBITED SUBSTANCES

The WADA Prohibited List is an open list, meaning it does not include every variation and possible name of the substances named on the List. WADA does, however, add examples based on trends in the most commonly used nomenclature. In 2019, the following examples were added.

Epiandrosterone (3β-hydroxy-5α-androstan-17-one) was added as an example of a prohibited anabolic agent

This prohibited substance has been found in nutritional supplements.

Tretoquinol (trimetoquinol) was added as an example of a prohibited beta-2 agonist.

It’s a prohibited ingredient in oral cold and flu medications, particularly in some countries in Asia.

These include: daprodustat (GSK1278863) and vadadustat (AKB-6548), and the reference name of molidustat, BAY 85-3934.

Macimorelin was added as an example of a growth hormone secretagogue.

Two more analogues of methylhexaneamine were added as examples: 5-methylhexan-2-amine (1,4-dimethylpentylamine) and 3-methylhexan-2-amine (1,2-dimethylpentylamine).

GENE & CELL DOPING

The title of M3.3 was changed to “Gene and Cell Doping,” since cells were already included in this class. Within this class, it’s important to note that stem cells are not prohibited while treating injuries, as long as their use restores, but does not enhance, function.

RECLASSIFICATION OF PROHIBITED SUBSTANCES

The title of S4.4 was changed to “Agents preventing Activin receptor IIB activation” to reflect the many ways this receptor can be affected.

Several examples are now list, to include myostatin inhibitors such as:

Myostatin-neutralizing antibodies

Myostatin-binding proteins

Agents reducing or ablating myostatin expression

Activin receptor IIB competitors

Anti-activin receptor IIB antibodies

Activin A-neutralizing antibodies.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Athletes and support personnel should use Global DRO at GlobalDRO.com to easily search the prohibited or permitted status of their medications or specific ingredients.

For further clarification on substances, methods, and products, contact USADA’s Drug Reference Line at drugreference@usada.org or (719) 785-2000, option 2.